Secretary-General's statement on the Report of the Commission on Africa

Africa is the foremost development challenge facing the international community today. The Millennium Declaration rightly drew attention to the special needs of Africa, and the UN has placed a high priority on supporting the peoples and governments of Africa as they strive to overcome the challenges of armed conflicts, poverty and disease.

I am confident that this report will be an important contribution to the continuing search for effective solutions to the continent's problems, and will be a useful input as I finalise my own report on the implementation of the Millennium Declaration.

On behalf of the United Nations I thank Prime Minister Tony Blair, his Government, and the members of the Commission.